Donald "Bronk" Bigalke

Donald “Bronk” Bigalke, 92 year old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Thursday, January 12, 2012 at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls, MN. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls, MN with Rev. Don Ludeman officiating. Burial will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. Friends may call from 4-7 P.M. on Monday and from 10-11 A.M. on Tuesday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls, MN. Funeral arrangements for Bronk Bigalke are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Donald “Bronk” Bigalke was born on September 6, 1919 in Darling Township in Morrison County to the late Fred and Mabel (Anderson) Bigalke. He attended country school in Darling Township and graduated from Little Falls Community High School in 1937. After graduation he went to work at Larson Boat Works in Little Falls as a painter. On July 9, 1942 Bronk enlisted into the U.S. Army where he served his country proudly during WWII in France. He was honorably discharged on July 14, 1945. Bronk was united in marriage to Betty Harrington on June 17, 1948 at Randall Presbyterian Church in Randall, MN. The couple resided in Randall, MN for many years until moving to Little Falls. Bronk worked for the US Postal Service as a mail carrier in Little Falls and later delivered mail on the Randall rural route for 35 years. He was very involved in MN Amateur Baseball, retiring as a player at age 61 and was later inducted into the MN Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. Bronk served on the Randall City Council, Little Falls School Board, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Board, Lutheran Care Center Board, and the HRA Board. He also worked as a member of the “Chain Gang” for 30 years at Little Falls Flyer Football games. Bronk was a member of the Randall VFW (Charter Member), D.A.V .(Disabled American Veterans), Little Falls American Legion, & Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls. He was very proud of his large garden that he grew every year and always kept his yard in immaculate condition. Bronk enjoyed fishing and loved to watch his kids and grandchildren play sports. He was greatly loved and will be dearly missed. Bronk is survived by wife, Betty Bigalke of Little Falls, MN; sons, Dean (Sherry) Bigalke of New London, MN, Greg (Diane) Bigalke of Monticello, MN, and Scot (Diane) Bigalke of Hastings, MN; sisters-in-law, Betty Bigalke of Little Falls, MN, Fern Bigalke of Little Falls, MN, & Mrytle Miller of Little Falls, MN; 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Bronk was preceded in death by parents, Fred and Mabel Bigalke; brothers, Leonard, Vernon, and Kenneth Bigalke.

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Donald "Bronk" Bigalke

September 6, 1919 - January 12, 2012